That means trenches.
Coincidentally, that also means graves (das Grab).
German troops to dig trenches on Poland’s borders – Anti-tank barriers to be built on frontiers with Belarus and Russia as Moscow ramps up pressure on Nato airspace.
Too few volunteers for the German military?
“I know, we’ll reintroduce the draft for everyone.” “No, we’ll introduce a lottery instead.”
They will do neither, of course. In a country where the majority of the citizenry openly admits that it would not defend it, the “debate” is meaningless.
Germany news: Coalition frictions open on military service – A canceled presentation on a military service breakthrough showed further signs of tension between the CDU and SPD.
That means surge.
German armed forces see 28% surge in recruits in NATO defence boost – Germany’s armed forces reported a 28% surge in soldier recruits from January to late July, compared with the same period last year, bolstering plans to boost NATO defences in response to what it sees as an increased threat from Russia.
The Defence Ministry said on Thursday more than 13,700 people had joined the Bundeswehr – the army, air force, navy and other forces – in that period, in what it said was the steepest rise for years.
Ah, because younger Germans aren’t?
Prepared to defend: Why older Germans are opting for military service – Thomas Hüser did not serve his country in uniform and with a weapon in the early 1990s, but instead opted to work for a year as a care assistant for the elderly – as was his right under Germany’s laws on alternative military service.
However, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the 54-year-old had a major rethink on his earlier moral stance on taking up arms.
“In the face of global threats, serving in the armed forces is a question of solidarity. Only a strong military can protect us,” said Hüser, a communications expert and manager who runs a zinc smelter in the northern German state of Lower Saxony.
Could get you killed.
‘Crazy’ data rules hit German plans to boost army reserve – Reservists’ association says Berlin has lost contact with almost a million potential reservists.
Strict data protection laws are hindering Germany’s efforts to swell the ranks of the armed forces of Europe’s largest nation, its reservists’ association has warned.
Patrick Sensburg, head of the Reservist Association of the German Armed Forces, said tough German and EU privacy rules meant it could not keep in contact with close to a million people who might help boost the country’s reserve forces as it seeks a stronger role in European defence and security…
Sensburg, a former member of parliament from Merz’s ruling Christian Democrats, added that while some might be unwell or uninterested, if even only a quarter of the 1mn agreed to serve it would be enough to meet the target for reservist numbers.
He said it was absurd that the body responsible for collecting Germany’s annual television fee could contact citizens a few weeks after they had moved house, while he had no way of tracking down people whose names were in the association’s records.
Version 9 as in nein as in it ain’t never gonna happen.
Aiming to strengthen the Bundeswehr to match the size and punch of a medium-sized American city’s police force…
Germany’s Merz vows to build Europe’s strongest army – “Our friends and partners also expect this from us, and what’s more, they are actually demanding it,” said the new chancellor.
By sending Russia more Russian soldiers.
Russian conscientious objectors in Germany face deportation – A ruling by the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg means Russian conscientious objectors who fled their country have less chance of being granted asylum in Germany. Human rights activists are concerned.
Germany is deporting more and more Russian citizens back to Russia, even though there is not a single direct flight between the two countries. The number of deportations could increase if the courts and authorities consider a ruling by the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg as a precedent…
“I wouldn’t say that German courts are adopting positions held by the Russian government. I interpret it as an unwillingness to consider information provded by human rights activists and the United Nations. It is easier to echo Russia’s state media outlets, who claim there is no mobilization.”
This time it’s when it comes to avoiding military service in Germany.
Hey. Girls will be girls. I mean, women.
German national service plan ‘discriminates against men’ – All 18-year-olds to get questionnaire but women do not have to fill it out.
PS: This also applies to “trans-women,” of course. However, one aspect of Germany’s recent gender law is very interesting. If it ever came to war – and a draft – these “trans-women” would be treated as men and drafted. This law may be ridiculous, and it is, but at least it legally establishes that there are only two genders and that they are not equal.
You’re a European, after all.
And we have too many of those.
Germany: No asylum for Russian draft dodgers?
German authorities say that men coming to Germany from Russia to avoid being enlisted in the army are not at risk of persecution if they return to Russia.
“We are expected to speak out and be more politically active, and then we are denied asylum. According to several articles of the law in Russia, we can be thrown into jail just for taking part in protests here.”
The Germans are running out. They will soon be in the minority.
In their own country.
Germany weighs allowing foreign citizens into the army – A senior lawmaker has told DW a potential scheme could include people not just from current EU members, but also from candidate countries, and provide a quicker path to German citizenship.
Observing Hermann 